Music Hall 1.5 turntable

Not sure why I haven't spotted this one until recently. Really nice looking budget turntable that seems to have good reviews. Anyone have one of these? Might be worth purchasing as I'm looking for a new turntable.

 

Yea, it's pretty new on the market so mostly just MH advertising bullets out there, but it does look to bring a lot of good features to the under $400 price point. Aluminum platter and tonearm, the tonearm s-shaped with removable headshell (no VTA adjustment ring, though). It has DC motor, so electronic speed control and 78rpm (supposedly adjustable, but not clear on that, and not clear on whether there is a feedback loop). They do claim motor isolation though, which has been a big problem on these entry level tables. Comes with preamp, defeatable, but to be seen if it is transparent when defeated. All in all, a nice package, but no real reviews yet. Wonder if Pro-Ject has a similar model coming out? I might wait a bit if I was looking, but seems very promising in that market... BTW, gotta have pictures ...

 

Nice Cherry Wood finish so the wife likes the look of it! I did hear it was very quiet. Seems like the Melody cartridge is made by AT but has a conical stylus that could probably do with something better.

 

Wonder if Pro-Ject has a similar model coming out?
Looks like one of several hundred Hanpin chinese clones out there
New project much better & heard one at show recently & sounded excellent
Pro-Ject Debut III S Audiophile: Let's Twist Again - The Audiophile Man

 

@daytona600 The Music Hall 1.5 turntable looks to be built at the Ya Horng Electronics Co. Ltd. OEM factory in Taiwan, which was used by TEAC, Fluance, and Akai, not by Hanpin.

The Pro-Ject Debut III S turntable is probably still built in Livotel, Czech Republic.

 

The Music Hall MMF-1.5 looks like a Fluance RT81, probably with the RT81's 0.2% wow & flutter.

As for Pro-Ject, there's no connection. Pro-Ject appears to have an exclusive deal with the Litovel factory and Music Hall apparently does not.

 

[QUOTE="daytona600, post: 18563882, membe

New project much better & heard one at show recently & sounded excellent
Pro-Ject Debut III S Audiophile: Let's Twist Again - The Audiophile Man [/QUOTE]
Looks like new arm and feet but keeping most of the Debut parts. Looks nice. Had an Xpression but not heard if the Debuts still have that hum.

 

The Pro-Ject appears to be the same table as the Music Hall 2.2 and 2.3 with a different arm. The Debut arms have that flush mounting on the plinth and and this has the recessed situation that many of the MH's and Pro-Jects have.

 

I had been eyeing the Music Hall 1.5 for a purchase. But this thread has me thinking that the less expensive Fluance RT-81 might be very similar (see above).

Anyone have a chance to use both of these tables and compare them?